Northern California Nesties
StefandTodd
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Wondering what Angela's been up to these days??
She started her own cupcake business!!
I'm loving her logo, her website and design...so cool. I'm probably in the minority around here who haven't had the chance to enjoy one of her awesome cupcakes.
Anyway, you should go "like" her page 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Cupcake-Co/213682075337178
Re: Wondering what Angela's been up to these days??
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Awwww... THANK YOU! I feel honored that you posted this.
Yes, this is what I've been up to. Every spare minute that I'm not working my "day job" has been dedicated to research, paperwork, licensing, website, etc, etc to get all this and running. (largely contributing to why I haven't been around here so much these days). Now the cat's out of the bag! I'm excite!
I feel honored that Stef posted... I wasn't going to post here for obvious reasons.
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Oh, and I think we really SHOULD do a GTG for Hannah before she goes away... And Stef, you need to come. I'll bring cupcakes. I promise.
Let me look at my calendar and see if I can find a day that works for me.
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Congratulations, Angela! I'm super happy for you
A GTG sounds awesome! Hope we can find a date that works well
IUI #1 10/12/11 (Bravelle + HCG + Prometrium & acupuncture) = 10/26 BFP! Beta #1=250, Beta #2= 615. 1st u/s 11/8.
Shut up! You did it?! Congratulations!!! I can't believe you haven't been posting more about it on here! I know you can't self-promote, but I would have loved to hear about the process of getting it all up and running (especially as, someday, I hope to start something of my own too
).
Anyway, I'm thrilled for you! I know you've been thinking about doing this for a while and it looks like you're totally up and running now. I assume you're keeping your day job for now?
Please post your new adventures from now on! I've missed having you around here. I thought you just got sick of how slow the board has been and decided to leave us
Glad to be wrong! 
Haha.
I'm TOTALLY keeping my day job!
I have bills to pay! 
I've really kept it super quiet (in general - not just here) because in the food industry, there are so many regulations and things you have to learn and do and I just didn't want to overcommit only to discover someone wasn't going to let me do it.
I'm also playing it safe with promotion. I don't want to go against policy here.
I'd love to talk to you about doing some of this stuff. I'm still sorta figuring it out, but it's on it's way.
Yay!
I can't even imagine all the things you must have to do to comply with food safety. It must have been so much work for you, and I'm so impressed (but not surprised) that you worked your way through all the details. Who did the website/logo/marketing stuff for you? Was it all you?
I'm sure you're busy but if/when you have time I'd love to here the whole story of how you got things going. When did you really start working on it?
I did my own logo/marketing/website/etc. The website is a template. Since this is a side job, I just don't have time to build from scratch. I do know my way around the web enough to make the template work for me (I think). ha!
I have been researching regulations, pricing, costs, licensing, etc and starting work on my branding for probably a year or so. Working on cupcake recipes, names, flavor combos, etc. Also, trying to define who I am and what I stand for. For me, I'm really into quality ingredients and really good flavors and flavor combos. They have to look cute and appealing, but I'm not a big fan of the "super cute" style w/ heavy dyes and lots of decorations, etc. I just like a GOOD quality, beautiful cupcake. In this process, I've had to make sure I stay true to who and what I am. It's easy to get sucked into the "oh, other people do X, Y, and Z - maybe I should too!" But if it's not "me", I have to stick to it.
I got "serious" about it about 2 mos (ish) ago and started "pulling the trigger" with actually putting in my applications, working on my website and putting everything together to make it happen. Ava has been really helpful with a lot of great info about the process and what was needed since she started her photo biz not too long ago.
I ran into a few road blocks - especially around food services and I had to call the county, read the details and fine print of the health/food laws of CA, etc. It was a pain in the tush.
Last week, all the stuff sort of converged and came together - I got my website done, actually got my biz license, opened my bank acct, etc, etc, etc, etc.
I was doing a "soft launch" by opening my facebook page last Friday (but not planning to really announce/promote it). But, I have been very surprised at how many people found out about in such a short period of time and the huge response I've received. It's humbling and exciting all at the same time.
The thing I'm working on now is the finer details and logistics and continuing to to try to find lower priced (quality) ingredients, bakery boxes, etc than what I'm planning to use now. That part is a HUGE headache. And it's not over yet. haha.
The other 'logistics' thing that's been challenging is just balancing this with my 'real' job. It's hard to do two jobs at once. And I'm still teaching at the gym (working off the cupcakes!) and my husband is in a full time school program and working full time as well. We're pretty much insane.
Other thing that's been hard (sorry to make it sound negative - it's not - it's just the challenges of a startup) is knowing how much to invest in the company of my own money without going overboard. Like I want to go out and by 50 cupcake pans, etc - but that's just silly. I need clients first! (slightly exaggerated, but you get the idea). AND making sure not to over-think everything. I just need to settle on it and GO.
My parents were entrepreneurs... So, I figure if they can do it, I can too. My mom has been very supportive and helpful with forms, tax info, etc (she did all the company books for their biz for 20-something years). So if I have a state tax type question, I go to her.
If you have any specific questions, let me know. But that's sort of the nutshell of what's been going on.